Family deaths in Melbourne: mother Katie Perinovic’s last days before the child murders

Neighbors are piecing together the events that took place in the days leading up to the shocking moment when a Melbourne mother is believed to have killed her three children before taking her own life.

The bodies of Katie Perinovic, her two daughters Claire, 7, and Anna, 5, and her son Matthew, 3, were discovered inside their home in Tullamarine, in the city’s northern suburbs, Thursday for the afternoon.

Perinovic’s husband, Tomislav, 48, called emergency services and was questioned by police before being released without charge.

Less than 24 hours before the shocking murders, Perinovic, 42, had left a bag of plums at the home of his Burgess St neighbors Daniel and Vicky Schembri.

Schembri, who has lived on the street with his wife for 48 years, said Perinovic knocked on the door at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. He thanked her and she said “Bye,” she told NCA Newswire.

Just two days before that, the Schembris had heard children happily playing in their pop-up pool. “They were yelling and yelling and having fun and all that,” he told The Australian.

The Perinovics were well known to their neighbors. The children had wished Mr. Schembri a happy new year. Kevin and Clare Harrison, who live opposite the family, visited on Christmas Day to give the children gifts.

“We sat with them for a while and Tom was on the floor playing with little Matthew with the cars we gave him,” she told The Australian. “He was helping the girls unpack their bits and pieces. We were just laughing and joking about things.”

By Thursday afternoon, the children were dead, following an act that has shocked the normally quiet community.

“Investigators do not believe that the 48-year-old man was involved in the incident and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the matter,” police said Thursday afternoon.

“Investigators from the Homicide Squad have formed a preliminary opinion that the 42-year-old woman is responsible for all four deaths and, upon completion of the investigation, a report will be provided for the coroner’s consideration.”

The locals are now trying to find out if there are clues to what they saw and heard about the family in the previous hours.

A local father who returned from a field trip around 4 p.m. Wednesday told the Herald Sun that they saw Perinovic visiting another house down the street and speaking with an owner named Freddie on actions that now seem out of the ordinary.

A young mother who lives around the corner told the Herald Sun that she had returned from her morning coffee with friends Thursday morning when she heard extremely loud screams coming from Burgess St.

Now she is convinced that the agitated screams around 11:45 in the morning were from Perinovic. About half an hour later, the mother says, she heard the sirens.

‘RETIRED’

Family friend Marie Groves said she last saw Perinovic when the mother of three visited their home in November for a party.

Groves said Perinovic seemed “unusually withdrawn and calm.”

“On November 29, I had him come over and help me celebrate my daughter’s birthday with my kids,” Groves told NCA NewsWire Thursday morning.

“She was only there for a short period … her two older daughters were very similar to my younger daughters, they were chatting and laughing – typical seven year old girls, they were beautiful girls.

“That day she seemed to be a bit withdrawn, that was not usual, she was very quiet … in hindsight, maybe that was an indication?

Groves said he did not know Perinovic’s husband Tomislav very well as he was “working all the time.”

Groves, who had developed a close bond with Perinovic when their children grew up together, said the last time she saw her neighbor was before Christmas, when she also seemed “a little calmer than usual.”

However, he added, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

The Schembrises said Perinovic moved next door about 25 years ago before meeting his future wife.

“As soon as they were married, she got pregnant,” Schembri said, adding that Perinovic seemed “happy.”

The Schembris said they used to see “very active” children all the time playing and riding their bikes on the street. The oldest, Claire, was taking dance lessons and the youngest was about to start school.

Both Claire and Anna went to St Christopher’s Elementary School in the nearby suburb of Airport West.

“Now in heaven,” Schembri said. “They were very good children.”

The first indication he had that something was wrong Thursday was that emergency services rushed into the street.

“We saw Tom sitting in the chair with his hands behind his back,” he said.

“He was quiet, numb.

“And then they took him away in the police car.”

Schembri said it broke her heart to think of the three children wishing them a happy new year, eating candy, just two weeks ago. “How could this happen?” he said.

LEAVE THE JOB

Former colleagues of Perinovic, who was a practicing physical therapist, told the Herald Sun they were devastated to learn of the deaths.

It is understood that he unexpectedly left the Glenroy physical therapy clinic about three months ago.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill said police will work to support the families of those involved and ensure they receive the help they need.

“I know there will be many people in the community who are struggling to understand and accept this tragedy,” he said.

“This has also been an incredibly difficult time for both the police and the paramedics, who responded and attended the scene yesterday.

“This has been an incredibly harrowing experience for all concerned.”

Lee, team manager for the West Meadows Paramedic Unit, also laid flowers at the site and took a moment to reflect outside the home.

Speaking to NCA NewsWire, he said five of his paramedics responded to Thursday’s horror and were “shocked.”

“The loss of three children deeply affects everyone, including our staff,” he said.

“It’s not normal … yes, we have distressing elements in our role, but incidents like this are rare.”

On Friday, mourners deposited flowers and cards at the property.

One girl, Anabelle, left her handwritten note on the doors moments before detectives left the scene with large brown bags of evidence.

“To Claire, Anna, Matt and Katie. You are always so kind, loving, caring and Claire was always my best friend (best friend forever). Anabelle’s love,” the note read.

The investigation continues.

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